Colorado Buffaloes vs UCF Knights Picks and Predictions January 24th 2026

UCF heads to Boulder to face Colorado on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET at the CU Events Center. It’s a Big 12 conference game on ESPN+. UCF is 14-4 overall and has been dominant at home (13-2), but the road sample is small and not great at 1-2. Colorado is 12-7 and has been strong in Boulder at 10-3, which is the main reason the Buffs are favored here.

Colorado is laying 2.5 with a total of 159.5. This line is basically a bet on home-court and late-game execution in a matchup where both offenses are capable. It’s not a big number, so you’re mostly deciding who you trust to control the game’s rhythm and who gets cleaner looks when it tightens up.

UCF Knights vs Colorado Buffaloes Odds

These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers and shop for the best number on the latest college basketball odds.

Team	Moneyline	Spread	Total
UCF Knights	+114	+2.5 (-113)	O 159.5
Colorado Buffaloes	-142	-2.5 (-110)	U 159.5

UCF Knights Betting Form

UCF is coming off a rough 87-57 loss to Iowa State, and that matters because it’s a reminder of what happens when the Knights can’t score efficiently early. The margin got away, and then it’s hard to evaluate anything from the second half. Still, Jordan Burks and Riley Kugel both scoring 15 in a bad offensive night tells you there are at least a couple of creators who can get to points even when things aren’t flowing.

The season-long profile is the reason I’m not overreacting to one blowout. UCF averages 83.7 points per game, shoots 47.8% from the field, and hits 36.9% from three. That’s a good offensive base for an underdog. If UCF is making threes at a normal clip, they can keep this within a possession almost by default, because Colorado isn’t a team that consistently buries opponents early. UCF’s ATS success as an underdog (62.5%) fits that idea.

The biggest concern is the road piece. UCF’s record away from home is thin, and this is a tough environment. If their shot quality slips, the offense can get a little jumpy. If you want to track how UCF has been performing and how their results have looked in different venues, the UCF stats and results hub is a good reference point.

Colorado Buffaloes Betting Form

Colorado just lost 75-69 to Kansas, and the takeaway is that they can hang in these types of Big 12 games even when the offense isn’t perfect. Isaiah Johnson with 19 and Barrington Hargress with 17 is the kind of top-end scoring they need, because Colorado tends to win when it gets at least two reliable scorers in rhythm.

The home record is the core of the handicap. Colorado is 10-3 at the CU Events Center, and they get to the line at a healthy clip (23.3 free-throw attempts per game) while shooting 77.2% at the stripe. That’s a big deal in a short spread game. Late-game free throws decide these. Colorado is also 9-2 straight up as a favorite, which suggests they’ve handled the expectation spots fairly well.

One thing I’m watching is efficiency. The Kansas game included a poor shooting night. If that repeats, Colorado can still win, but it becomes much harder to separate. Against a team like UCF that can hit threes, a mediocre shooting night puts pressure on Colorado’s defense and rebounding to carry the margin.

UCF Knights vs Colorado Buffaloes Matchup Breakdown

This feels like a shot profile matchup more than anything. UCF can stretch the floor and score quickly when the threes are falling. Colorado’s edge is more about steadiness, home-court, and free-throw creation. If Colorado is getting downhill and living at the line, UCF’s defense can get stressed, and that’s where the game can tilt.

The total at 159.5 is high, but both teams’ season scoring suggests it’s reachable if the pace stays decent and the game remains competitive. The Over path is a close game with normal shooting, plus free throws late. The Under path is a Colorado-controlled game where UCF’s offense looks more like the Iowa State game than the Kansas State win, or where both teams trade missed threes and empty possessions for stretches.

Altitude and road legs can matter in Boulder, especially for teams not used to it. It doesn’t always show up right away, but it can show up in late-game jump shots. That’s not a certainty, but it’s part of why I’m cautious backing a road underdog purely on offense. This is also a spot where game state matters a lot, and the sports betting strategy guide is a useful lens for thinking about how late fouling and free throws can push a total.

Open

Jan 24, 2026 23:59 EST

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Score

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-9.50 -106

Spread

+9.50 -106

o+155.00-108

Total

u+155.00-108

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Moneyline

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2 Picks Available

Open

Jan 24, 2026 22:00 EST

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Score

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+2.50 -110

Spread

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o+150.50-115

Total

u+150.50-105

+128

Moneyline

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2 Picks Available

Open

Jan 24, 2026 22:00 EST

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Score

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-1.50 -106

Spread

+1.50 -106

o+142.00-108

Total

u+142.00-108

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Moneyline

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4 Picks Available

UCF Knights vs Colorado Buffaloes Predictions and Best Bets

My lean is Colorado -2.5. I get the appeal of UCF +2.5 based on offensive efficiency, but I trust Colorado’s home profile and free-throw edge in a short spread game. If this is tight in the final three minutes, I’d rather be holding the home favorite that can score at the line and has proven it can win these expectation spots.

On the total, I lean Over 159.5, but it’s a thinner lean than the side. The number is high, yet both teams have enough scoring to get there if the game stays close and the free throws show up. If either offense has a prolonged cold stretch, it can miss, but the most likely script to me is a competitive game in the low-to-mid 80s.

Best Bet: Colorado Buffaloes -2.5 (-110).

NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

Big 12 lines can move quickly because the market reacts hard to one recent result, especially blowouts. The best approach is usually comparing multiple games and prices rather than forcing a play based on one team’s last box score.

ScoresAndStats helps you do that with today’s college basketball picks. If you’re tracking a bunch of games and want a clean hub for schedules, records, and team context while you shop numbers, the NCAAB teams page keeps everything organized.